Publications
This list of publications includes peer-review journal articles, official USGS publications series, reports and more authored by scientists in the Ecosystems Mission Area. A database of all USGS publications, with advanced search features, can be accessed at the USGS Publications Warehouse.
Filter Total Items: 42999
Forest floor and mineral soil respiration rates in a northern Minnesota red pine chronosequence Forest floor and mineral soil respiration rates in a northern Minnesota red pine chronosequence
We measured total soil CO2 efflux (RS) and efflux from the forest floor layers (RFF) in red pine (Pinus resinosaAit.) stands of different ages to examine relationships between stand age and belowground C cycling. Soil temperature and RS were often lower in a 31-year-old stand (Y31) than in 9-year-old (Y9), 61-year-old (Y61), or 123-year-old (Y123) stands. This pattern was most apparent...
Authors
Matthew Powers, Randall Kolka, John B. Bradford, Brian J. Palik, Martin Jurgensen
Preparing for an uncertain future: Migrating shorebird response to past climatic fluctuations in the Prairie Potholes Preparing for an uncertain future: Migrating shorebird response to past climatic fluctuations in the Prairie Potholes
The Prairie Pothole Region, situated in the northern Great Plains, provides important stopover habitat for migratory shorebirds. During spring migration in the U.S. Prairie Potholes, 7.3 million shorebirds refuel in the region's myriad small, freshwater wetlands. Shorebirds use mudflats, shorelines, and ephemeral wetlands that are far more abundant in wet years than dry years. Generally...
Authors
Valerie A. Steen, Susan K. Skagen, Barry R. Noon
Resource competition model predicts zonation and increasing nutrient use efficiency along a wetland salinity gradient Resource competition model predicts zonation and increasing nutrient use efficiency along a wetland salinity gradient
A trade-off between competitive ability and stress tolerance has been hypothesized and empirically supported to explain the zonation of species across stress gradients for a number of systems. Since stress often reduces plant productivity, one might expect a pattern of decreasing productivity across the zones of the stress gradient. However, this pattern is often not observed in coastal...
Authors
Donald Schoolmaster, Camille L. Stagg
The northern pike, a prized native but disastrous invasive: Chapter 14 The northern pike, a prized native but disastrous invasive: Chapter 14
As the chapters in this book describe, the northern pike Esox lucius Linneaus, 1758 is a fascinating fish that plays an important ecological role in structuring aquatic communities (chapter 8), has the capacity to aid lake restoration efforts (chapter 11), and contributes substantially to local economies, both as a highlysought after sport fish (chapter 12) and as a commercial fishing...
Authors
David Rutz, Robert L. Massengill, Adam J. Sepulveda, Kristine J. Dunker
Perissodactyla diet Perissodactyla diet
Perissodactyla (Schoch 1989) includes tapirs, rhinoceros, wild asses, horses, and zebras. It is the order of hoofed mammals referred to as “odd-toed ungulates” because its members have one to three weight-bearing toes and walk on hoofs or “ungules.” They are herbivores that are specialized to exploit grasslands and brushy habitat (rhinos, horses, asses, zebras) or dense tropical forests...
Authors
Kathryn A. Schoenecker
Contaminant-associated health effects in fishes from the Ottawa and Ashtabula Rivers, Ohio Contaminant-associated health effects in fishes from the Ottawa and Ashtabula Rivers, Ohio
The health of resident fishes serves as a biologically relevant barometer of aquatic ecosystem integrity. Here, the health of the Ottawa River and Ashtabula River (both within the Lake Erie Basin) were assessed using morphological and immunological biomarkers in brown bullheads (Ameiurus nebulosus) and largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). Biomarker metrics were compared to fish...
Authors
Luke R. Iwanowicz, Vicki S. Blazer, Heather L. Walsh, Cassidy H. Shaw, David S. DeVault, Jo A. Banda
Use of remote sensing to detect and predict aquatic nuisance vegetation growth in coastal Louisiana: Summary of findings Use of remote sensing to detect and predict aquatic nuisance vegetation growth in coastal Louisiana: Summary of findings
On an annual basis, federal and state agencies are responsible for mapping and removing large expanses of aquatic nuisance vegetation from navigable waterways. This study set out to achieve four primary objectives: (1) utilize recent advancements in remote sensing techniques to classify the extent and distribution of aquatic vegetation in coastal ecosystems using satellite imagery, (2)...
Authors
Glenn M. Suir, Kevin J. Suir, Sijan Sapkota
Use of real-time dust monitoring and surface condition to evaluate success of unpaved road treatments Use of real-time dust monitoring and surface condition to evaluate success of unpaved road treatments
No abstract available.
Authors
Bethany K. Kunz, Nicholas S. Green, Janice L. Albers, Mark L. Wildhaber, Edward E. Little
Estimating wetland connectivity to streams in the Prairie Pothole Region: An isotopic and remote sensing approach Estimating wetland connectivity to streams in the Prairie Pothole Region: An isotopic and remote sensing approach
Understanding hydrologic connectivity between wetlands and perennial streams is critical to understanding the reliance of stream flow on inputs from wetlands. We used the isotopic evaporation signal in water and remote sensing to examine wetland‐stream hydrologic connectivity within the Pipestem Creek watershed, North Dakota, a watershed dominated by prairie‐pothole wetlands. Pipestem...
Authors
J. R. Brooks, David M. Mushet, Melanie K. Vanderhoof, Scott G. Leibowitz, J. R. Christensen, Brian Neff, Donald O. Rosenberry, W. D. Rugh, L.C. Alexander
Sirenian life history Sirenian life history
Sirenians, including the manatees and dugongs, are large herbivorous mammals that have evolved to an aquatic form since the Eocene epoch. Sirenians have unique adaptations, including dense bone for ballast and a longitudinal hemidiaphragm separating paired lungs (which aid in maintaining a horizontal posture in the water column), species-specific rostral deflection, and unique dentition...
Authors
Robert K. Bonde
The effect of isolation, fragmentation, and population bottlenecks on song structure of a Hawaiian honeycreeper The effect of isolation, fragmentation, and population bottlenecks on song structure of a Hawaiian honeycreeper
Little is known about how important social behaviors such as song vary within and among populations for any of the endemic Hawaiian honeycreepers. Habitat loss and non‐native diseases (e.g., avian malaria) have resulted in isolation and fragmentation of Hawaiian honeycreepers within primarily high elevation forests. In this study, we examined how isolation of Hawai'i ‘amakihi...
Authors
Joshua M. Pang-Ching, Kristina L. Paxton, Eben H. Paxton, Adam A. Pack, Patrick J. Hart
Validation of ATR FT-IR to identify polymers of plastic marine debris, including those ingested by marine organisms Validation of ATR FT-IR to identify polymers of plastic marine debris, including those ingested by marine organisms
Polymer identification of plastic marine debris can help identify its sources, degradation, and fate. We optimized and validated a fast, simple, and accessible technique, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR FT-IR), to identify polymers contained in plastic ingested by sea turtles. Spectra of consumer good items with known resin identification codes...
Authors
Melissa R. Jung, F. David Horgen, Sara V. Orski, Viviana Rodriguez, Kathryn L. Beers, George H. Balazs, T. Todd Jones, Thierry M. Work, Kayla C. Brignac, Sarah-Jeanne Royer, David K. Hyrenbach, Brenda A. Jensen, Jennifer M. Lynch